Five Most Expensive Watches Auctioned In 2023

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by Yaseen Dockrat

Five Most Expensive Watches Auctioned In 2023

13 Feb 2024

The past year has seen some impressive sales at luxury watch auctions, where watches have broken records by fetching some of the highest bids for timepieces the industry has ever seen. Among the rare pieces that have been auctioned is the Patek Philippe Ref. 96QL Quantieme Lune, the most expensive watch to be sold during 2023, fetching $6.2 million and breaking the record for the model.

Other notable watches that made it to auction last year include the Patek Philippe Sky Moon Tourbillon and the rare Roger Smith Pocket Watch Number Two. While these were not as close to the most expensive watches ever sold at auction, each has a significant history that places it among the most coveted watches in the world.

Source: phillips.com

Patek Philippe Ref. 96 Quantieme Lune — $6.2 million

Manufactured in 1929 and sold eight years later, the Patek Philippe Ref. 96QL Quantieme Lune set a record for a wristwatch that once belonged to an emperor. The watch pertained to Aisin-Gioro Puyi, the last Emperor of the Qing dynasty, and was sold at auction for $6.2 million in May 2023. The watch is one of eight known examples of the model. It features a platinum encasing with an enamel Arabic Roulette dial, a moon phase complication, and a pink gold Feuille hand. The watch was one of 12 items belonging to the Emperor sold at Phillips' Imperial Patek Philippe Sale in Hong Kong.

Source: onlineonly.christies.com

Patek Philippe, Grand Complications, Sky Moon Tourbillon — $5.8 million

If the earlier watch was a record breaker for Phillips, another Patek Philippe set a record at Christie's Hong Kong in 2023. The Patek Philippe Grand Complications, Sky Moon Tourbillon, set the record for the most expensive watch sold online. The extraordinary Sky Moon Tourbillon Ref. 6002G features 12 complications, including a perpetual calendar, sky chart, sidereal time, moon phases, and cathedral minute repeating; all encased in a beautiful 18-karat white gold case. The blue champleve and cloisonne enamel dial are as beautiful as the watch case and its complications. The watch went under the hammer for a global record $5.8 million, a new record for the most expensive watch sold at an online auction.

Source: phillips.com

Roger Smith Pocket Watch Number Two — $4.9 million

Phillips' New York Watch Auction saw a rare pocket watch steal the show. The completely handmade Roger Smith Pocket Watch Number Two sold for a cool $4.9 million, setting a new record for a timepiece auctioned by Roger Smith and a timepiece produced in Britain. "It is the most important watch I have made, without a doubt," Roger Smith said when speaking of it. The watch took Smith five years to craft, as every single part, from the movement to the case, hands, and dial, was created by Smith himself. The watch features a four-year perpetual calendar, moon phase, one-minute tourbillon, and a spring detent escapement.

Source: phillips.com

Rolex Daytona, Ref. 6270 The End Game — $4.1 million

The Rolex Daytona Ref. 6270 The End Game is arguably one of the stand-out watches that went under the hammer last year. The timepiece is not your average Rolex. The watch features a yellow gold case and metal bracelet, a pave diamond dial finished with sapphire indexes and a baguette diamond bezel. The watch is one of eight ever-made examples, fetching $4.1 million and setting the new record for a Rolex Ref. 6270 model.

Source: phillips.com

Patek Philippe Ref. 2499 Perpetual Calendar Pink Gold Second Series — $3.2 million

A rare Patek Philippe Pink Gold Second Series Ref. 2499 sold at auction for $3.2 million at Phillips Geneva Watch Auction XVII. One of two Patek Philippe Ref 2499 to go under the hammer at the auction – the other was a first-series model in yellow gold that sold for $2.6 million. While the 2499 might not be as renowned as the Ref. 5711, it is still highly sought-after among elite watch collectors. The watch became the second-highest lot at the Phillips Geneva Watch Auction XVII. According to some field experts, fewer than 10 Rose Gold 2499 examples have ever been made.

by Yaseen Dockrat